What about us?

Editor:

We in Vista Hills ate the Loma Colorado subdivisions construction dirt for a year and a half but now aren’t allowed to drive through that hallowed ground. When Vista Hills was built, the planners planned for the future and they extended some roads out of Vista Hills ready for future growth; roads pointed right at the Loma Colorado subdivision. The new City of Vision allows or encourages these new developments to be landlocked. Now that road work is about to start, on Oct. 8 on Sundt in Vista Hills, any possible emergency could leave us at the top of Vista Hills unable to get out. What if the construction shuts down Sundt, even for a short period, and someone up here has a medical emergency or fire?

For a Vista Hills high school student to get to school they have to drive a few miles instead of a few blocks. It makes it a almost as easy to go to Cottonwood Mall in Albuquerque, just for a trip to Lowe’s. I guess the City of Vision believes fuel prices are going to go down and that our time isn’t important.

Michael Shannon

Rio Rancho

Breeders part of problem?

Editor:

I read the rant (Rio Rancho Observer, Oct. 4) decrying a time, years hence, when we will be unable, by the writers depictions, to find pets because neighbors object to breeding facilities in residential areas.

I actually pray for the day when there is any semblance of a shortage of animals, including purebreds, rather than the abandonment, misery and euthanasia facing thousands just in the metro area. 

How can anyone be so clueless in a day when everyone from game show hosts to elected and humane officials tries to educate as to the extent of pet overpopulation? How can anyone count the, literally, hundreds of purebreds for sale in Albuquerque papers and at pet shops and not understand that purebreds are the problem, either directly as they turn up at shelters or indirectly as they deprive other animals of potential homes?

And spare me the “hobby breeder” euphemism. The term is “backyard breeder” or, often, “puppy mill,” from my view, both accurate depictions of operations clueless or uncaring about everything from genetics (to ensure healthy litters) to the stark reality that the breed they produce is tragically well represented at shelters. A quick Internet search will reveal groups all over the nation trying to rescue purebreds from shelters, breeding facilities, abandonment, racing operations and various other versions of animal Auschwitz.

Perhaps a requirement for running a backyard breeding operation should be that breeders — and politicians who support their “right” to run such operations — must volunteer at a local shelter. Perhaps then the grim reality of pet overpopulation will sink in.

Kathleene Parker

Rio Rancho

Thanks to all

Editor:

The Enchanted Hills Homeowners Association wishes to thank Gary Herron and the Rio Rancho Observer for their coverage and reporting of our fifth annual Fall BBQ which was held on Sept. 27. We also thank all of the sponsors whose support contributed to this successful event:

Albertsons; Bad Ass Coffee Company; Cable One; Cassandra Dennis of Coldwell Banker Legacy; City of Vision and Sandoval County Civitan Clubs; El Rincon Pet Hospital; Enchanted Hills Apartments; Enchanted Vista Apartments; FBI ERT Team; Gabriel Ortega of State Farm Insurance Agency; Jacquie Barragan of New York Life; Karen Sluga of Gold Canyon; Mariposa Child Development Center; Mountain View Church; Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue Department; Rio Rancho National Guard; Rio Rancho Police Department; Sue Duncan of Stewart Title; Tanva Oliva of TNT Entertainment; Todd Hathorne of Foundation Financial; ultiMED Urgent Medical Care; Usborne Books; and Wayne Luco, DDS.

Cynthia Jacques

Board member-at-large & Publicity Committee

Enchanted Hills Homeowner’s

 Association, Neighborhood

Association, Inc.